Metanoia Institute Apologizes to Expelled Student

James Esses, a former barrister and student psychotherapist, has received an apology from the Metanoia Institute after being expelled for expressing gender-critical views and campaigning against a proposed ban on conversion therapy. The institute admitted it breached its own policies by not providing a proper hearing and acknowledged that Esses’ beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010. After facing online abuse and legal action, Esses reached a settlement with the institute, which recognized that his advocacy aimed to protect children with gender dysphoria. Metanoia issued a statement acknowledging the importance of empathy in therapy and apologized for the handling of his case. The controversy surrounding conversion therapy legislation continues, as the government plans to introduce a ban that includes trans conversion practices. Esses has warned that educational institutions must be cautious about penalizing individuals with differing opinions.